There are two major schools of thought about increase in global human population. One perspective relates to the Malthusian interpretation of a burgeoning population. The Malthusian theory adopts a pessimistic view of population increase founded on the assumption that with more population, there will be more mouths to feed and resources to support it will be depleted. The other view relies on technology as the panacea to the problems of overpopulation.

The Malthusian Theory

The Malthusian theory is founded on the assumption that uncontrolled population growth inexorably results to environmental destruction. The ultimate scenario of the Malthusian theory would be wars, famine, resource depletion, among others as a result of competition for dwindling natural resources. The Malthusian theory persisted through time but it seems to be laden with flaws as data on the population-resources relation have shown outcomes which are contrary to expectations.

People Specialized and Applied Technology

With more population comes more minds to help address the problems associated with human sustenance. People became more specialized in their work and applied technology to solve problems that arise out of an increasing population growth. Food production became much more efficient and people have increased their per capita consumption.

With more population, work becomes much more specialized.

There is so much reliance on technology as the human population grows and it seems that this reliance on technological solution is effective in counteracting the predicted negative externalities of geometric population growth predicted by advocates of the Malthusian theory.

Negative Consequences of Population Growth Persists

While this may be true at some point in time, there are also indications that unabated extraction of natural resources to meet the demand of the economy appears to approach the dangers predicted by Malthus. The increasing unrest in Africa among other poor nations manifest the negative consequences of population growth persists. Scarcity of food resources hound many nations.

On a global scale, the problems of climate change may be attributed to human economic activities. After all, there may be more sense in taking the “precautionary approach” to prevent disastrous results in the future.

The Malthusian Theory may be right after all.